Tie plate



Sept. 1, 1931. HUFF- TI'E PLATE Filed Aug. 1, 1930 HA9 ATTORNEY.

Patented Sept. 1, 1931 nnrren; STATES FRED HUFF, or onIcAeo, ILLINOISPATENT OFFICE TIE PLATE 7 a lication filed August 1, 1930. Serial no.472,367.

This invention relates to certain novel improvements in tie plates, andhas for its principal object the provision of an improved constructionof this character which will be I highly eflicient in use and economicalin manufacture; I r

' Among the several objects of this invention is the provision ofanimproved tie plate for railroad rails and thelike which efiectivelyprevents longitudinal movement of the rail which is known as creeping. v

" Another obj ect of the invention is the provision of an improved tieplate which efi'ec tively absorbs the side thrust against the rail whena railway vehicle or the like passes thereover and particularly toabsorb the side thrust against the rails at curves in the track. Afurther object of the invention is the provision of an improved tieplate for effectively distributing the side thrust against the spikesretainingthe tie plate in position so that the'entire force of thethrust is not centered against the spikes. I

An additional object of the, invention is the provision of animprovedconstruction :embodying a tie plate which will not creep transversely ofthe tie. in the direction of the longitudinal extent of the rail. I V rA further object of the invention is the provision of an improved tieplate which is particularly adapted for use on railway curves and whicheffectively prevents what is known as the spreading of rails.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

The invention consists in the novel com-' tially on the line 3-3 in Fig.2;,

7 Fig. 4 is a perspective View of a unit em- 1,2jand 3; and

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of another unit embodied in the inventionas depicted in Figs. 1,2 and 3. i

. Referring tothe drawings wherein a preferred form of construction ofmy invention is depicted, indicated at is a railway-tie transversely ofwhich extends a rail generically indicated at 11. The rail 11, as iswell understood in the art, includes the usual base flange portions 12and 13.

My improved device includes a base plate generically indicated at 14 inwhich similar holes 15, 16,17 and 18 are provided to receive the stemportions of the spikes 19, it being manifest that the heads of thespikes protrude over the lower edge of the flanges 12 in the manner wellunderstood in the art.

The base 14 includes similar butoppositely disposed shelves 21 and 22and by referring to Figs. 3 and 5 is may be seen that the spike holes 15and 16 are provided in the shelf 21 while the spike holes 17 and 18 areprovided in the shelf 22.

The inner side ofthe shelf 21 is defined by intersecting edges 23 and 24which provide a shoulder 25. Similarly, the inner side bodied intheinvention as depicted in Figs.

of the shelf 22 is defined by the intersecting V edges26 and 27 whichdefine a shoulder 28. .It may be seen, therefore, by referring to Fig.5, that the edges 23 and 26 define a slot or groove 29 in the base 14and that this slot 29 converges at the shoulders 25 and 28 into .a slotor groove 30 which is defined by the h edges 24 and 27.

My improved tie plate includes a slidable late 31 which in the use of myinvention is slidably inserted into operative position through the slot29. The plate 31 includes an end portion 32 and an end portion 33between which is defined a transversely extending slot 45 which extendsover a base 34:. By referring to Figs. 3 and 4, it may be seen that theinner side of the end portion 32 is defined by intersecting edges 35 and36 which intersect to define a shoulder 37, and similar edges 38 and 39which intersect to define a shoulder 40. The edges 36 and 38 intersectto define a recess 41, as best shown in Fig. 3.

The inner side of the end portion 33 is de fined by intersecting edges42 and 43 which intersect to define shoulder 44.

In the manufacture of my invention I make the base 34 of lesser verticalheight than the shelves 21 and 22 so that when the plate 31 is disposedbetween the shelves 21 and 22 the base of the rail does not rest uponthe base 34 of the plate 31.

Preferably cast as an integral part of the plate 31 is a substantiallyconical pivot 46 which is disposed in the base 34 of the plate 31opposite the recess 41 and adjacent the end portion 32. As best shown inFig. 2, when the rail 11 is disposed in the slot the flange portion 12oi": the rail rests upon the pointed pivot 46 so that the flange 12 iselevated slightly above the flange 13. It is manifest, therefore, thatwhen my improved tie plate is in operative position the base of theflange 12 of the rail rests upon the pivot 46 as a bearingpoint whilethe flange 13 rests upon the shelves 21 and 22 inwardly of and adjacentthe shoulder 44. It will be seen therefore, that the weight of the caror train passing over the rail 11 is directed downwardly through thepivot 46 to bind the plate 31 against the upper surface of the grooves29 and 30 while permitting the plate 31 a certain amount of lateralmovement about the shoulders 25 and 28 as pivots. This improvedconstruction prevents or takes up the longitudinal thrust of the railand eliminates what is known as creeping. It is apparent, however, aswill best be seen by referring to Fig. 3, that when a car or train ispassing over the rail 11 the force and weight of the car or train whiletending to pivot the plate 31 about either the shoulder 25 or theshoulder 28 as a pivot, depending upon tae direction of travel of thecar or train, likewise serves to wedge the rail between the shoulders 37and 40 and the shoulder 44 which takes up the side thrust against therail and prevents what is known as spreading since the side thrust istaken away from the spikes 19 and directed against the shoulders 37 and40 and 44 of the plate 31 which plate floats in the slots 29 and 30.

-Further to prevent creeping I provide diagonally extending ridges 47,48, 49 and 50 on the bottom of the base 14 1nd these ridges arepreferably triangular in shape so as to be wedged into the tielO.

From the foregoing description of my invention it is manifest that Ihave provided an improved tie plate which while being simple andeconomical in construction and accomplishing its several other objectspointed out hereinbefore effectively prevents what are known as thecreeping and spreading of rails.

\Vhile I have illustrated and described the preferred form ofconstruction for carrying my invention into effect, this is capable ofvariation and modification, without de )arting from the spirit of theinvention. I therefore, do not wish to be limited to the precise detailsof construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of such variationsand modifications as come within the scope of the ap- 7 pended claims.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patent is:

1. In a device of the class described, a base plate havinglongitudinally extending intersecting converging grooves formed thereinproviding shelves in said base plate and providing a shoulder in each ofsaid shelves at the point of intersection of said grooves, and a secondplate slidably inserted in said grooves andadapted for lateral pivotalmovement on said shoulders.

22. In a device of the class described, a base. plate havinglongitudinally extendingintersecting converging grooves formed thereinproviding shelves in said base plate and providing a shoulder in each ofsaid shelves at the point of intersection of said grooves said goshelves having holes provided therein adapted to receive connectingelements for mounting said device in a supporting member, and a secondplate slidably inserted in said grooves and adapted'for lateral pivotalmove; 9 ment on said shoulders.

3. In a device of the class described, a base plate havinglongitudinally extending intersecting converging grooves formed thereinproviding shelves in said base plate and pro-i iding a shoulder in eachof said shelves at the point of intersection of said grooves, saidshelves having holesprovided therein adapted to receive connectingelements for mounting said device on a supporting member, andtf asecond. plate slidably inserted in said grooves and adapted for lateralpivotal movement on said shoulders, said second plate having atransversely extending groove formed therein substantially atrightanglestiv'n to the longitudinal direction of said converginggrooves.

4. In aidevice'of the class described, a base plate havinglongitudinally extending intersecting converging grooves formed therein"1 5 providing shelves in said base plate and providing a shoulder ineach of said shelves at the point of intersection of said grooves, saidshelves having holes provided therein adapted to receive connectingelements for mounting said device on a supporting member, and

a second plate slidably inserted in said grooves an d adapted forlateral pivotal movement on said shoulders, said second plate having atransversely extending groove formed therein substantially at'rightangles to the longitudinal direction of said converging grooves,said second plate including an end portion having recesses formedtherein opening toward said second-named groove and providing shouldersand including another end portion having a shoulder provided thereinextending into said groove toward said last-named shoulders.

5. In a device of the class described, a base plate havinglongitudinally extending intersecting converging grooves formed thereinproviding shelves in said base plate and providing a shoulder in each ofsaid shelves at the point of intersection of said grooves said shelveshaving holes provided therein adapted to receive connecting elements formounting said device on a supporting member, and a second plate slidablyinserted in said grooves and adapted for lateral pivotal 'movement onsaid shoulders, said second plate having a transversely extending grooveformed therein substantially at rightangles to the longitudinaldirection of said converging grooves, said second plate including an endportion having recesses formed therein opening toward sa1d second-namedgroove and providing shoulders and including another end portion havinga shoulder provided therein extending into said groove toward saidlast-named shoulders, the bottom of said second-named groove beingdisposedslightly below the upper surfaces of said shelves, and

a substantially conical elevation formed in sa1d second plate extendingupwardly from sa1d second named groove and providing a bearing for oneflange of a rail base adapted to be disposed thereon.

6. In a device of the class described, a base plate havinglongitudinally extending intersecting converging grooves formed thereinproviding shelves in said base plate and providing a shoulder in each ofsaid shelves at the point of intersection of said grooves, and a secondplate in said grooves and adapted for lateral pivotal movement on saidshoulders.

'Z. In a device of the class described, a base plate havinglongitudinally extending intersecting converging grooves formed thereinproviding shelves in said base plate and providing a shoulder in each ofsaid shelves at the point of intersection of said grooves, a secondplate in said grooves and adapted for lateral pivotal movement on said,shoulders, said second named plate having a transversely extendinggroove formed therein through which the base flanges of a rail areadapted to extend, said second named plate including end portions at theends of said last named groove adapted to engage the side edges of saidbase flanges.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature.

FRED HUFF.

